Search Through All Noticesommunity College (GCC) President Mary Okada met with the four Guam students who recently participated in the Pacific Summer Transportation Education Program (PAC-STEP) National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) hosted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa from June 18 to 30 in Oahu.
The two-week summer camp introduced students to transportation careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) through related activities, field trips, and recreational events. Travel and housing accommodation costs were covered through a grant from the Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation.
From a field of 20 high school student applicants across seven Guam high schools, the four students selected to attend were: Harriet Gorre, a sophomore at Tiyan High School; Brandon Ho, a senior at Father Duenas Memorial High School; Julian Bonin, a sophomore at Guam High; and Aundrea Eliana, a sophomore at Simon Sanchez High School. The students were accompanied by Christine Sison, GCC Associate Dean, School of Trades and Professional Services.
“Immersive programs like this introduce our students to transportation engineering and planning, where they gain awareness of educational and career opportunities in this vital sector of our community,” said Governor Lou Leon Guerrero. “I am excited to see our youth participation and hope they will be inspired to seek careers in these fields.”
“Workforce development can never start too soon,” said Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio. “The reports submitted demonstrate the knowledge, experience, and lessons learned at the camp are seeds for growth as the students begin to plan their career paths.”
“We thank our partners at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, the University of Hawaii at Manoa, and the Guam Community College for putting together this program, and we look forward to sending more students in the years to come,” said DPW Director Vince Arriola.
“For the past five years, in partnership with the DPW and FHWA, the college has conducted the NSTI program for middle school students. Continuing the program into the high schools reiterates to our students the possibilities of a career in the transportation industry,” said GCC President Mary Okada.
The students shared their takeaways from the summer camp with Governor Lou Leon Guerrero at a debrief session on August 1, where she presented Certificates of Participation.
See attached report and photos.
Photo Caption: Presentation of Certificates held August 1, 2023, at the Office of the Governor for Students who participated in the Pacific Summer Transportation Education Program (PAC-STEP) National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) hosted by the University of Hawaii at Manoa from June 18-30 in Oahu, Hawaii.
Front Row: Brandon Ho -Father Duenas Memorial School, Aundrea Eliana - Simon Sanchez High School, Harriet Gorre - Tiyan High School, Julian Bonin - Guam High School
Back Row: Monica Guzman – Guam Transportation Group, Mary AY Okada ED.D - Guam Community College, President & CEO, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero, Vincent Arriola - Department of Public Works - Director, Pilar Perez Willams - GCC School of Trades and Professional Services, Dean, Christine B. Sison, Ph.D. - GCC School of Trades and Professional Services, Associate Dean
